American player Sydney Sweeney was subjected to a major cryptocurrency attack on the X platform on July 2, 2024. Sweeney’s X account was hacked and the attacker introduced a Solana-based token called SWEENEY. The token created a huge surge in the market with a rapidly increasing trading volume.

However, the price was inflated and then quickly collapsed, indicating that this was a classic pump-and-dump scheme. According to ZachXBT’s research, Gurvinder Bhangu’s name is mentioned in this hacking incident.

Gurv is known as a hacker who was convicted in the United Kingdom for hacking Instagram accounts and blackmailing users. According to online reports, Gurv had previously hacked the social media accounts of three victims in the US and locked the account of one of them with 1.1 million followers.

Such attacks reveal the vulnerabilities of social media platforms and the risks users may be exposed to.

After Sweeney’s hack, screenshots containing codes Gurv received from the SIM swap via Telegram were published online. This provided key evidence that Gurv was directly linked to the SIM swap used to gain access to Sweeney’s account.

ZachXBT also managed to find another attack by Gurv or his partner on July 9 using the Ethereum address linked to Sweeney’s SIM swap transaction. This shows how cybercriminals systematically use their technical knowledge and skills.

On July 8, Bob Odenkirk, the famous actor of the TV series Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, also suffered a similar hack attack. The hacker also shared a memecoin link on Odenkirk’s account.

According to ZachXBT’s analysis, proceeds from the scam were transferred to the same Ethereum address that funded the Solana address. This shows how hacking incidents and fraudulent activities can be linked and coordinated.

ZachXBT hopes that UK authorities can quickly recapture and prosecute Gurv, and states that this can be done with the “massive amount of evidence” he has provided. He also explained that some funds were transferred to crypto casinos and to purchase gift cards, while these funds were also collected in four different wallets.

At the time of ZachXBT’s post, these wallets contained a total of $488,000 worth of cryptocurrency.

SIM swap attacks have become an increasingly used method by cybercriminals. These types of attacks are generally considered low-level in terms of technical skills, but their impact can be huge.

It is critical for users to pay attention to identity security and increase cyber security measures to protect themselves from such hacks. The security of cryptocurrencies and digital assets requires a careful and proactive approach from users and platforms.